"Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God," - 2 Cor 1:21
Sometimes I hear people say of gifted preachers and evangelists, "Oh that guy is anointed" or "they have an anointing". While I wouldn't argue that they in fact are anointed, I would argue that so are the ones recognizing that anointing--that is you and I, and every other Spirit indwelt believer have an anointing. The Bible is clear that all believer's are "anointed" of God. (1 Jn 2:20, 27) Now let me backtrack a little bit here so you can fully appreciate this concept and truth of being anointed. The Greek word for anoint is Chriō , we get the word "Christ" from it ie. The anointed one. This word literally means to pour, rub, or smear. The ancient shepherds would anoint their sheep with oil so lice and other insects wouldn't be able to crawl into the sheep's ear and kill them. Anointing was used for protection and healing throughout the scriptures. Even in the New Testament the sick in the church are encouraged to seek prayer from the elders and to be anointed with oil for healing. However to anoint figuratively means to appoint or qualify for service. In the Old Testament priests and kings were appointed for service by being visibly anointed with oil. Take for example young David who was anointed by Samuel as king of Israel. The priests in the Old Testament however needed to offer a blood sacrifice on their behalf before being anointed with oil and ordained to their priestly duties. This concept follows through in Christ's (the anointed one) work of redemption and His equipping us for service on earth. You see we are a holy people, and a priesthood of all believers (1 Pet 2:5), and we have been set apart for the work of ministry. And we do this by offering spiritual sacrifices unto God. Likewise a once and for all sacrifice has been offered for us at the cross, and the Holy Spirit has come to anoint us by indwelling us (and continuously infilling us) for His purposes and will.
Christ was anointed with the Spirit without measure (Jn 3:34) that is why He was able to do so many signs and wonders; He healed people, walked on water, turned water into wine, and even raised people back from the dead. Christ was equipped for the work of ministry that was laid before Him, He is our ultimate example on how we must rely on God's strength and power to get us through the things that lie before us. If Christ needed to be anointed how much more do we? Remember Christ is God but He emptied Himself when He became flesh in order to fully rely on the Father as He was tried as a man. We are all anointed because of Christ who died for us, and because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us. The question is are we walking out in that calling? Are we seeking to be filled by the Holy Spirit so that we can be used in a greater measure? I believe that God wants to give us more of His Spirit but it's not that He has a limited measure but that we have a limited willingness and capacity to receive more of Him. If you are a Christian you have a calling on your life and spiritual gifts that God wants you to use for the edifying of His people on earth and to reach those that don't yet know Him.
Christ was anointed with the Spirit without measure (Jn 3:34) that is why He was able to do so many signs and wonders; He healed people, walked on water, turned water into wine, and even raised people back from the dead. Christ was equipped for the work of ministry that was laid before Him, He is our ultimate example on how we must rely on God's strength and power to get us through the things that lie before us. If Christ needed to be anointed how much more do we? Remember Christ is God but He emptied Himself when He became flesh in order to fully rely on the Father as He was tried as a man. We are all anointed because of Christ who died for us, and because of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us. The question is are we walking out in that calling? Are we seeking to be filled by the Holy Spirit so that we can be used in a greater measure? I believe that God wants to give us more of His Spirit but it's not that He has a limited measure but that we have a limited willingness and capacity to receive more of Him. If you are a Christian you have a calling on your life and spiritual gifts that God wants you to use for the edifying of His people on earth and to reach those that don't yet know Him.
- HOW WOULD ACKNOWLEDGING THAT YOU ARE SPECIAL IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND THAT HE HAS ANOINTED YOU WITH THE SAME SPIRIT THAT ANOINTED JESUS ENCOURAGE YOU TO FACE WHAT'S AHEAD OF YOU?
- "I want here boldly to assert that it is my happy belief that every Christian can have a copious outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a measure far beyond that received at conversion" -A.W. Tozer